C45
A beam of light, or perhaps a flame, seemed to ascend from the shellfish.
As the brilliance receded, Ye Yu's gaze was fixed on the sight within.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Yu was astounded. Before him was an exceptional fire pearl!
It was a golden pearl, as round and large as a fist.
Ye Yu had never encountered such an immense pearl, not even in tales.
Moreover, its hue was akin to pure gold, gleaming with an intense sheen under the room's incandescent light.
More peculiar was the appearance of flames dancing across the pearl's surface as Ye Yu viewed it from different angles.
Even to the uninitiated, it was clear this was no ordinary gem!
Ye Yu extended his hands, cradling the pearl with a sense of wonder.
This was no common pearl; it radiated warmth like the finest warm jade, encircled by flames.
Holding the pearl close, Ye Yu marveled at its uniqueness. Such a remarkable fire pearl could only come from a monarch shellfish.
"System, what kind of pearl is this?" inquired Ye Yu, driven by curiosity.
"A fire pearl!"
"And what makes it so special?" Ye Yu pressed on, intrigued by its impressive name.
"It's quite large!"
Ye Yu was exasperated. "System, quit the nonsense. You know what I'm asking."
"This pearl is enflamed, equipped with its own constant temperature feature. No matter how cold it gets, it can emit warmth. Your mother will never worry about you forgoing long pants again!"
Ye Yu felt a twinge of disappointment. Such an extraordinary pearl serving merely as a glorified hot water bottle seemed excessively lavish.
He resolved to make this pearl the premier item at the auction.
Ye Yu held the belief that youth thrived on robust health and a spirited nature; he had no need for the pearl.
He placed the fire pearl back into the shellfish and pressed gently; the shellfish closed on its own accord.
Satisfied with a glance at the monarch shellfish, Ye Yu nodded, hopeful for a lucrative auction outcome.
Seated, Ye Yu retrieved a slightly damp business card from his pocket.
Qian Youwei.
Phone: 13083728493.
Chairman and Chief Auctioneer at Top Auction House.
Ye Yu's brow lifted. Qian Youwei was also an auctioneer?
He dialed Qian Youwei's number.
"Hello, this is Qian Youwei. Rest assured, your money will be with you shortly!" came Qian's somewhat impatient voice from the other end.
Ye Yu cleared his ear, sensing a misunderstanding. "It's me, Ye Yu!"
Qian Youwei's voice relaxed, "Oh, it's you. I feared it was a debt collector."
"Believe me, you won't have to worry much longer!"
Qian Youwei let out a weary chuckle, "How soon is soon? If I can't settle my debts in a few days, the bank will seize my auction house!"
Ye Yu's eyes flicked to the monarch shellfish on the table, and he smiled, "Worry not, I've secured our first auction piece!"
"What kind of item?" Qian Youwei's spirits lifted momentarily before sinking again. What could a high school student possibly offer of value?
"A pearl, and it's sizable. I'll show it to you tomorrow afternoon; it'll be quite the eye-opener," Ye Yu promised with a grin.
"A pearl, then," Qian Youwei conceded.
Now resigned to his fate, Qian Youwei wondered what sort of pearl could rescue a failing auction house. But Ye Yu was his lifeline; he couldn't turn him away.
After ending the call, Ye Yu shrugged off his coat, leaving him clad only in a pair of shorts as he stood in the clear space inside his home.
He began with a few unconventional warm-up exercises before reluctantly starting the 36th set of radio gymnastics, which always seemed to bring on a headache.
As his joints protested with audible pops, Ye Yu silently cursed the twisted mind that had concocted such maddening movements.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, Ye Yu completed the strenuous routine. Lying on the floor, soaked in sweat and wracked with intense soreness throughout his body, he had no desire to move even a muscle.
Meanwhile, in an opulent villa, Han Xue and her parents were seated across from each other in the expansive living room.
With her back straight and a solemn look on her face, Han Xue met her father's gaze with earnest intensity.
